On December 4, 1929, a group of men founded The Club of Civil Aviation to promote commercial and sport aviation. The school intended to "teach the art of flying and the craft of mechanical aviation." A Lincoln PT was purchased and the club proceeded with its charter. Considering the era, this may not come as a surprise. What may surprise you is that the figurehead of this group was Antonio Claramount Lucero, and the aero club was in Ilopango, a suburb of San Salvador, El Salvador.
Where?
Talk with any of the performers at Ilopango '02 and you will find no shortage of enthusiasm for El Salvador and its people — it's overwhelming. Ask the performers about advice for the typical pilot flying down from the U.S. and the replies are equally unanimous: Do your homework, carefully prepare all paperwork, and strike up correspondence with some of the contacts listed here for advice. The 2003 Ilopango Airshow takes place January 25 and 26.
- Ilopango Airshow — Wendy Roca ( www.ilopangoairshow.com)
- The Aero Club — Tito Gutierrez ( [email protected]
- Barillas Marina Club; 503/632-1802 ( www.barillasmarina.com)
- Radisson Plaza Hotel, El Salvador; 800/333-3333 ( [email protected]) — MF
Fast forward to the 1990s. After years of internal conflict that devastated the aviation community in El Salvador, the members of Club Salvadoreño de Aviación Civil y Reserva took to rebuilding their proud heritage. Part of this task was to share the aero club's passion with the community. Through the efforts of Carlos Panama and Ricardo sol Meza and other club members, sponsors were established, national and international airshow acts were arranged, and by 1997 the first Ilopango Airshow commenced.
Ilopango '97 featured international civil and military pilots, including the Northern Lights. By 2002 the show had grown to include Pepsi Team pilots Suzzane Asbury and Steve Oliver, John Mohr and his Stearman, Julius Barney and his PBY Catalina, Greg Poe, the Swift Magic Team, Greg Koontz, Rich Gibson's Incredible Pyro, and Bill Leff's AT?6. Obviously, Ilopango was now on the airshow map. As with any show it would have not been possible without the dedication of the airshow committee members: Ricardo sol Meza, Hans Bodewig, Carlos Panama, Oscar Safie, Gustavo Longoria, Rafael Rivas Duran, Tito Gutierrez, Carlos Dardano, Gerardo Valiente, Juan Wright, and airshow Manager Wendy Roca. This group and others opened their hearts and homes to all the pilots involved. But it wasn't just imported acts that wowed the local citizenry. There were the talents of Manarique Hidalgo in his Pitts S2A, Archie Baldocchi who piloted his Extra 300 and later joined Hans Bodewig and Rojelio Pena in a helicopter threesome, Tito Guitierrez in his Midget Mustang, and Carlos Dardono in his red and blue Super Decatholon. This exciting mix of talent and nationalities made for one heck of an airshow.
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